Resources | Funeral Services

These are excellent death and dying resources for anyone with fatal illnesses, dying, a caretaker, or has lost a loved one. Presented are many practical, innovative ideas which can reduce emotional and financial burdens. Topics range from how our culture treats the dying to the topic of alternatives to traditional funerals and cemeteries.

Click on a heading below to jump to its section.

Increasingly, more resources for support and information are available. These are chosen to give you an understanding of a range of subjects and the explosion of ideas. Click on arrow links below to view information.

Inspiring and practical, this Project is dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care. Easy to use tools facilitate the often complicated and taboo exploration with loved ones.https://theconversationproject.org/

Environmental, Ecological Resources

This Hawaiian group provides a wholistic, alternative, innovative approach to death and dying, from education to services. While I thought the name Doorway Home was unique when this site was created, later I found these wise people were sharing their universal gifts under a similar name. Their expertise and heartful work is forging new cultural practices.https://doorwayintolight.org/

http://www.caitlindoughty.com/about This blog shares alternative burial procedures. Caitlin Doughty, author of the blog and related books, is a mortician and advocate for environmental ‘decay’ with an offbeat sense of humor.

Grief

Home Burials

Final Passages

Jerrigrace Lyons pioneers this frontier. Final Passages provides training and burial services for those seeking an ecological and less expensive alternative. Many find this type of burial more connecting.https://www.finalpassages.org

Legal Support

Mary Alice Jackson, Esq.

Florida Bar Board Certified Law Attorneymajackson@boyerjackson.com She spoke at a Sarasota Memorial Hospital seminar on Palliative Care, 2009. She has much expertise and experience in this field. Her clients are all over the nation.

Media

Video

Many informative documentaries on this topic were created since the 1980’s. PBS is very insightful. The title “A Family Undertaking” presents an outstanding history of America’s relationship to death and dying. A multitude of fictional movies that can be found via internet searches. Another movie I appreciate that appeals to all ages is titled “Up,” by Disney Movies.

Books

A Bed by the Window, Scott Peck Peck presents his belief that humans choose when they will die. It is not a perspective I have an opinion about, but think is interesting.

A Grief Observed, C.S. Lewis Lewis shares his intimate and arduous journey through life without his deceased wife.

Having Your Own Say: Getting the Right Care When It Means the Most, Bernard Hammes, Ph.D. A how to guide book for caring for the terminally ill. Here is the author’s website dedicated to this:https://www.havingyourownsay.org/

On Death and Dying, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Seminal writing on the stages of grief related to death and dying.

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf, Leo Buscaglia This is an allegory that uses the seasons and a maple tree to illustrate the passages of life.

The Grace in Dying, Kathleen Singh Clarity in understanding the process of death helps us better cope. This book offers a lovely sketch based on many hours with the dying.

Retelling Violent Death, Edward K. Rynearson, MD This psychiatrist assists others in dealing with trauma of untimely and violent death of loved ones. His wisdom comes from both knowledge and his own experience.

Widow to Widow, Genevieve Davis Ginsburg Practical, loving advise for the newly single woman trying to do it all.

Will the Circle be Unbroken, Studs Terkel A very down to earth review of how others cope with death. Interviews with scores of different types of people who demonstrate the many ways we live and die.

Who Dies, Stephen Levine All of his books are powerful with spiritually sound support. Also visit and learn from his website www.LevineTalks.com

Music

Music is good for the soul. These are some of my favorites; some I like for listening and some for the lyric meaning. Please share your favorites.